Adjustable swinging door assembly



April 11, 1967 c. A. KIRBY ADJUSTABLE SWINGING DOOR ASSEMBLY Filed Aug.16, 1965 CharlesHKz'rby United States Patent 3,313,064 ADJUSTABLESWING'ING DOOR ASSEMBLY Charles A. Kirby, Gig Harbor, Wash, assignor toAllied Building Components, Inc., Tacoma, Wash., :1 corporation ofWashington Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,782 2 Claims. (Cl. 49-388)This invention relates to pivotally mounted swinging door assemblies.

In the installation of swinging doors, it is present practice for thebuilder or user to purchase the doors from a rehanger whose function itis to purchase the doors and hardware separately from wholesalers andthen to mount the hardware upon the doors, thus providing for resale adoor assembly ready for hanging. This conventional procedure isdisadvantageous in at least two respects.

In the first place, the door construction and the relationship of thehardware to the door are fixed. Accordingly if either the door or thedoor frame is not true, any correcting changes have to be made to theframe rather than to the door. This is relatively difiicult toaccomplish.

In the second place, the necessity of using the services of a prehangerintroduces a middleman between the wholesaler and the builder andincreases correspondingly the cost of installing the doors.

It accordignly is the general purpose of the present invention toprovide a pivotally mounted swinging door assembly which may bemerchandised as a unit, and which may be hung easily on the installationsite by the user on a do-it-yourself basis.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a pivotallymounted swinging door assembly which swings freely through an arc of 180and hence may be used as a simplified, less costly replacement forconventional hinged doors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pivotallymounted swinging door assembly which is adjustable to suit the frame inwhich it is mounted, both initially and during the service life of thedoor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pivotallymounted swinging door assembly mounted on hardware of simpleconstruction, universally applicable to right hand or left handinstallations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pivotallymounted swinging door assembly which may be mounted rapidly withoutmortising the door frame.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of apivotally mounted swinging door assembly which is efiicient in itsoperation, which may be used with light or heavy doors, and which may beused universally with magnetic catches, friction catches, latches orother types of fasteners.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this inventionare accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specificationand claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a typical door installationillustrating the manner in which the presently described swinging doorunit may be mounted;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, foreshortened view in elevation of theinstalled door showing the mounting parts in their assembled relation;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary, vertical and horizontal sectional views,respectively, taken along lines 33 and 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a door opening, partly in sec- 3,313,064Patented Apr. 11, 1967 tion, illustrating the universal applicability ofthe mounting units for the herein described swinging door assemblies inmaking either right hand or left hand opening installations.

The adjustable swinging door assembly of my invention is applicable tothe mounting of swinging doors in a doorway which includes a header, twoside jambs and a sill. Broadly considered, the assembly includes 1) afirst pivot pin socket and means for mounting it on the inner,

upper corner of the door face; (2) a first pivot pin and means formounting it on the header adjacent the door jamb for reception in thefirst pivot pin socket; (3) a second pivot pin socket and means formounting it on the inner, lower corner of the door face; and (4) asecond pivot pin and means for mounting it on the floor or sill adjacentthe side jamb.

Both of the sockets and their respective mountings, as well as both ofthe pivot pins and their respective mountings, are universallyapplicable for right hand or left hand installation. Also, each of thepivot pin-socket pairs is independently adjustable to locate the doorproperly in the door frame. Accordingly the builder or home owner maybuy the door and the hardware and mount the hardware on the door at theinstallation site. Suitable adjustment of the pivot pin-socket pairsthen is made as required to square the door in the door frame. Thisobviously greatly expedites the door hanging operation and reducescorrespondingly its cost. It also facilitates installation of doors inany desired location as a do-it-yourself, post-construction basis.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particularreference to the drawings: a

As seen in FIG. 1, the presently described swinging door assembly isadapted for mounting in a doorway defined by side jambs 10, 12, header14 and floor or sill, 16. Side jamb 10 is provided with side moldingstrips 18, 20 and stop strip 22 in the usual manner. Similarly, sidejamb 12 is provided with side molding strips 24, 26 and stop strip 28.

A door 30 is dimensioned for hanging in the doorway. Since it iscontemplated that the door and its mounting hardware may be soldtogether, the door is precut substantially to size, although it may betrimmed as required to fit the opening.

Door 30 is preformed with latch openings 32, 34. These are locatedsubstantially exactly in the center of the door, vertically considered,to permit reversing the door to accommodate right or left handinstallation.

Door 30 also is preformed with two pairs of spaced openings 36, 38respectively. These are located at the top and bottom of the innermargin of the door. They serve as the means of securing the door to themounting hardware.

The hardware employed for mounting the door basically comprises a pairof sockets supported on mounting plates and a pair of pins supported onmounting plates, the sockets and pins being secured one to the door andthe other to the. door framing members in pivotal relationship to eachother. Preferably the sockets are secured to the door and the pins tothe door framing members.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the socket unit indicatedgenerally at 40 for attachment to the lower part of the door comprises amounting plate 42 supporting on one corner an outwardly projecting,downwardly directed socket unit 44. A pair of internally threaded,inwardly projecting studs 46 are fixed to or formed integrally with theunder surface of the plate. These are dimensioned for insertion inopenings 38 through the door. When thus in position, they may be securedby application of bolts 48 from the opposite side of the door.

The upper socket unit, indicated generally .at 50, is similar inconstruction and application, except that it bears a right hand-lefthand relationship to the lower socket unit.

It accordingly comprises a mounting plate 52 on one corner of which isthe outwardly projecting, upwardly directed socket 54. The underside ofthe plate mounts inwardly directed, internally threaded studs 55 whichmay be pressed into upper spaced openings 36 of the door and secured bymeans of bolts 56 applied through the opposite face of the door.

Lower socket unit 40 cooperates with a lower pivot pin unit indicatedgenerally at 60. This unit comprises a mounting plate 62, generallyrectangular in outline, and dimensioned to fit snugly in the anglebetween side jamb and stop strip 22. It is formed with an adjustmentslot 64 adapted to receive a screw 66 and, spaced therefrom, with alocking opening 68 dimensioned to receive locking screw 70.

Mounting plate 62 is formed with an outward extension 72 which mountsthe pivot pin in the pivoting axis of the door. The plate is providedwith a drilled and tapped transverse opening 74, which .may be enteredfrom either side and which determines the longitudinal axis of the pivotpin.

A pivot pin seat 76 having an exterior hex-nut configuration and adownwardly projecting bolt extension 77 is threaded into tapped opening74. The lower, threaded end of a pivot pin 78 is received in seat 76. Ahex-nut 79 is fixed centrally to pin 78.

Pin 78 is dimensioned for insertion in socket 44 in pivot formingrelation. The upper surface of nut 79 thereupon provides a bearingsurface which supports the door. Thus, by applying wrenches to seat 76and nut 79, it is possible to adjust the door vertically to the desiredworking elevation.

Similarly upper pivot pin unit indicated generally at 80, basicallycomprises a mounting plate and an outwardly extending pivot pin. Themounting plate supports the pivot pin and is identical with mountingplate 62 used to support lower pivot pin 78, the two plates beinginterchangeable for top or bottom mounting installations if rotatedthrough 180. Thus like the lower plate, upper plate 62 is provided withan adjusting slot 64 and a locking opening 68. It also is provided withan extension 72 which mounts the pivot pin in the pivoting axis of thedoor by providing a threaded opening 74 in which the pivot pin may besecured.

A pivot pin 82 having a bolt extension 83 is threaded into upper plateopening 74. The pin is dimensioned for reception in upper socket 54. Ahex-nut 84 is fixed tothe pin intermediate its ends to adjust itselevation.

To mount the herein described adjustable swinging door assembly:

First, a decision is reached as to whether the door is to be mounted forleft hand or right hand swing. If it is to be mounted for left handswing, plate 62 of the lower pivot pin unit is located as shown in theleft in FIG. 5. If it is to be mounted [for a right hand swing, the sameplate is flipped over 180 and located as shown to the right of the samefigure.

In either case, the plate is held in its predetermined position and ahole drilled in the floor to accommodate screw 66 in slot 64 of themounting plate. At first the screw is left in a loose sliding fit. Thesame procedure is followed in locating plate 62 in the upper pivot pinunit 80. I

The composite lower pivot pin assembly including seat 76 and pin unit 78then is threaded into threaded opening 74 of lower mounting plate 62.Similarly, upper pivot pin unit 82 including nut 84 is threaded intothreaded opening 74 of upper mounting plate 62. Each pivot pin issecured in position by application of a wrench to its adjusting nutcomponents. Adjustment nut 79 is located in its lowermost position.

Next, with the door placed on its edge, lock set opening 32 beingpositioned downwardly, socket unit 40 is pressed into opening 38 andsocket unit 50 is pressed into opening 36, after which both units aresecured in place by the application of bolts 48, 56, respectively.

-The door now is ready for hanging. This is accomplished simply byguiding upper pivot pin 82 into socket 54 and bringing lower socket 44in alignment with lower pivot pin 78. The door then is lowered until thelower pivot pin is seated in the lower socket.

The door now is ready for alignment, both horizontally and vertically.

To align the door horizontally, the gap around the door is checkedvisually or by measurement and upper and lower mounting plates 62adjusted with reference to screws 66 until the desired spacing has beenobtained. Screws 66 then are screwed down against the respectiveassociated plate.

Screw openings 68 are drilled in the respective structural members andlocking screws 70 inserted. This completes the horizontal alignment.

The vertical alignment is accomplished by holding hexnut seat 76 withone wrench and adjusting adjustment nut 79 with a second wrench, theadjustment being in an upward direction until the desired verticalalignment of the door is achieved. Both of these adjustments may berepeated from time to time if it becomes necessary during use of thedoor.

It thus will be apparent that by the present invention '1 have provideda swing door assembly which may be supplied as a single unit includingboth the door and the mounting hardware. This unit is applicableuniversally to either right or left hand installations. It may bemounted in the door opening rapidly and accurately without the necessityof mortising the door frame to mount the hinges. When mounted, it willswing Furthermore, the door may be adjusted accurately to fit the frame,both initially and during its service life.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvariouschanges in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjustable swinging door assembly for mounting in a doorwayincluding a header, two side jambs and a sill, the assembly comprising:

(a) a door,

(b) first pivot pin socket means and mounting means for mounting thesame on the inner lower corner of the door face,

(c) second pivot pin socket means and mounting means for mounting thesame on the inner, upper corner of the door face,

(d) first pivot pin means and means for mounting it on the sill adjacentthe door jamb, the pivot pin means being dimensioned for insertion inthe first pivot pin socket means,

(e) second pivot pin means and mounting means for mounting the same onthe header adjacent the door jamb, the pivot pin. means beingdimensioned for insertion in the second pivot pin socket means,

(f) the first and second pivot pin means comprising identical mountingplates,

(g) securing means for securing the plates to the adjacent structuralmembers in reverse relationship to each other and axially aligned pinsextending toward each other, one from eachrof the plates,

(h) the plates being provided with outwardly projecting pin-mountingextensions, each formed with a transverse threaded opening, 7

(i) the lower pivot pin means including a set member (j) the pivot pinhaving secured thereto intermediate its ends an adjustment nut locatedfor bearing against the associated socket, thereby vertically locatingthe door.

2. The door assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper pivot pin has areversely threaded inner section dimensioned for reception in thethreaded opening of the upper mounting plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRISON R.MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. O KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

1. AN ADJUSTABLE SWINGING DOOR ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING IN A DOORWAYINCLUDING A HEADER, TWO SIDE JAMBS AND A SILL, THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING:(A) A DOOR, (B) FIRST PIVOT PIN SOCKET MEANS AND MOUNTING MEANS FORMOUNTING THE SAME ON THE INNER LOWER CORNER OF THE DOOR FACE, (C) SECONDPIVOT PIN SOCKET MEANS AND MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE SAME ON THEINNER, UPPER CORNER OF THE DOOR FACE, (D) FIRST PIVOT PIN MEANS ANDMEANS FOR MOUNTING IT ON THE SILL ADJACENT THE DOOR JAMB, THE PIVOT PINMEANS BEING DIMENSIONED FOR INSERTION IN THE FIRST PIVOT PIN SOCKETMEANS, (E) SECOND PIVOT PIN MEANS AND MOUNTING MEANS FOR MOUNTING THESAME ON THE HEADER ADJACENT THE DOOR JAMB, THE PIVOT PIN MEANS BEINGDIMENSIONED FOR INSERTION IN THE SECOND PIVOT PIN SOCKET MEANS, (F) THEFIRST AND SECOND PIVOT PIN MEANS COMPRISING IDENTICAL MOUNTING PLATES,(G) SECURING MEANS FOR SECURING THE PLATES TO THE ADJACENT STRUCTURALMEMBERS IN REVERSE RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER AND AXIALLY ALIGNED PINSEXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER, ONE FROM EACH OF THE PLATES, (H) THE PLATESBEING PROVIDED WITH OUTWARDLY PROJECTING PIN-MOUNTING EXTENSIONS, EACHFORMED WITH A TRANSVERSE THREADED OPENING,